The other day my colleague told me a joke:
Q: When you have a moth ball in one hand and a moth ball in the other, what do you have?
A: A really big moth.
In the incongruity theory of comedy, humour is thought to arise from the perception of something that violates our expectations. This moth joke works on a surprising play on words. The setup primes your brain to think of the moth balls we have in the cupboard. The punchline subverts your expectations with a different set of moth balls.
Previously I introduced you to the SCAMPER technique for generating novel ideas. Here I will show how useful SCAMPER is for developing absurdities that can, in their incongruity, surprise us into laughter.
SCAMPER to a Better Hammock
In the activity below I ran the simple hammock through SCAMPER. For brevity, I used only three of the seven SCAMPER letters.
S is for Substitute
What can be swapped in and out to improve the product or process?
M is for Modify [also sometimes written Modify, Magnify, Minify]
How might the product or process be improved through changes to size, function or shape?
E is for Eliminate
What can be removed from the product or process to improve it?
The resulting S[CA]M[P]E[R] mind map is chock full of incongruities, all available at your local Hammocks-R-Us. There is The Convex Hammock that modifies shape, The Glamping Hammock that modifies purpose, size and the number of anchor points, and The Virtual Hammock that eliminates any need for an actual hammock.
Here are some of the other incongruous alterations and add-ons available to the discerning hammock user:
Astronauts deserve to relax too. Modifying the location in which a hammock is typically used opens us to up to The Space Hammock. The Space Hammock comes with tent strings, straps for the limbs, and The Wobbler to simulate that tenuous Earth Hammock experience.
The Cat Hammock modifies species of user. This hammock comes in smaller sizes, multiple colours, and with straps to keep the kitty in it and protective gloves for the owner.
Worried about where to put your drinks and snacks when you're relaxing in your hammock? Worry no more. The Otter Tray rests on your belly, a stable table with a recessed cup holder. Provide your belly measurements to our in-house fitters for The Otter Tray Premium, designed to fit snugly to your precise dimensions.
Kiss that tenuous dis/mount goodbye with the Stand and Flip, a portable mechanism that will flip you from standing to supine in under half a second. It comes with adjustable straps to wrap around your chest and ankles and a liability waiver.
Now that you can get in and out with confidence, why don't you eliminate the hammock's movement once and for all? The Stabilised Hammock comes with stabilising aluminium stakes to fix your hammock in place. For those who want additional safety, side rails may also be attached (note: sold separately).
Tired of the tangle? The Human Hammock eliminates the need for string. With a detailed instructional video for attaching the rings to your limbs and hooking yourself to anchor points, you'll be hammocking in no time – tangle-free! (Please note, this could be mistaken for torture and might not be relaxing for some.)
Prefer to remain upright? The Pegged Hammock is the hammock for you. By substituting one post for two and pegs for a hammock's traditional hooks and rings, we've created the ultimate standing hammock. Pegs are fully portable so you can relax anywhere! Just arrange the pegs to fit your armpits and groin, climb on up, and away you go! Guaranteed time hanging loose from other any commitments and, eventually, death from positional asphyxia.
and introducing
The Enclosed Hammock
Look, we get it. Not everyone loves hammocks. Though hammocks are used by campers or climbers to sleep in strange places, or by free-spirited people to relax on a warm day, most people don't use hammocks. This is because hammocks are death traps. They're prone to detach from their anchor points and can topple the structures they're anchored to.
Now even more people can enjoy a hammock without losing their lives or their dignity.
The Enclosed Hammock is a revolution in relaxation. It not only eliminates many of the safety issues related to hammock use, its range of optional extras ensures you can hammock in maximum comfort. Finally, here is a hammock for the risk-averse.
No wobbling! No falling out!
The Enclosed Hammock is an installed hammock of superior safety. With infinite anchor points, it can't wobble during mounting or dismounting, and you won't have to worry about falling out. That's not possible with The Enclosed Hammock.
Encased on all sides, The Enclosed Hammock protects your modesty. Welcome news indeed for anyone who avoids the trussed ham styling of the traditional hammock.
Better still, The Enclosed Hammock is fully installed by one of our licensed professionals. With no time-consuming and fiddly set-up for you, that's even more relaxation.
Optional extras include:
steps;
canopies;
a selection of trays and arms;
a range of attractive colours;
single, double and party size;
transportable or installed dis/mounting hoists.
The Enclosed Hammock D-LUX includes our patented temperature treatment mechanism. Use your hammock all year round with chilled casing for summer and heated casing for winter.
Come down to our showroom or call 1800-555-460 to arrange an obligation-free quote.
Image is for illustration only and might not resemble The Enclosed Hammock you receive.
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